The Cottage Bulletin
Late summer 2026
The very first Bulletin: what we're reading, six September titles we can't wait for, Midori's magical paper, four links worth your time, and two events at the cottage.
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Books, reading, and other good things from the cottage.
Latest issue
Longer reads
Reviews & essays
Review
Bitter wind: a review of Helm by Sarah Hall
In Helm’s expansive experience of time, the human cast feels secondary. This is a shame, given the novel quickly pivots from Helm’s subversive voice to spend the most time with them. They don’t learn, change, develop,...
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Review
Book review: Pulled noodles, pulled heartstrings in Annalee Newitz’s Automatic Noodle
We’ve all been told robots will take our jobs. What if they taught us how to resist instead?
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Review
Book review: Katabasis takes us deep into the underworld of the mind
Like the stinging wasps in Dante’s Inferno, something needled me as I read Katabasis, the latest from R.F. Kuang, academic and best-selling author of Yellowface, Babel, and The Poppy War series. Katabasis, meaning descent into the...
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Review
Book review: Belching bishops and domestic affairs in The Pilgrimage by John Broderick
In 1961, Catholic doctrine heavily influenced Irish law. Books were banned for contradicting social mores. The Pilgrimage, with its extramarital affairs, homosexual liaisons, belching priests, and critique of miracle cures, stood no chance.
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What we’re reading
Staff Picks
Staff picks: volume 4
Twelve new staff favourites for summer—spanning speculative fiction, fantasy, Canadian historical fiction, nature writing, romantasy, and more.
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Staff Picks
Staff picks: volume 3
Spring has officially arrived at the cottage, and with it, a fresh wave of books we can't stop talking about. Whether you're reading on the dock, in the garden, or tucked into...
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Staff Picks
Staff picks: volume 2
From cozy magical cat shelters to high-stakes space operas, our team has curated these shelves with intention. Just look for the pink heart online and at the cottage (with removable stickers to...
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Staff Picks
Staff picks: volume 1
Explore our collection of guaranteed good reads. Each staff pick is chosen with love by our team of expert booksellers.
Keep readingBookshop notes
From the cottage
From the Cottage
The 2025 Nottawa Cottage holiday gift guide: a book for every reader on your list
Find the perfect gift with the Nottawa Cottage 2025 Holiday Gift Guide. Explore expert book recommendations and details on our exclusive holiday events.
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From the Cottage
Find the Perfect Mother's Day Gift at Nottawa Cottage Bookstore! ✨
Mother's Day is just around the corner (Sunday, May 12th!), and finding that perfect gift that truly resonates with Mom can sometimes feel overwhelming....
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From the Cottage
Join us for Canadian Independent Bookstore Day ✨
Is there anything more delightful than a bookstore celebration? I don't think so! This Saturday, April 26th, we're pulling out all the stops for Canadian...
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